This post may contain affiliate links, please see the privacy policy for details.
Hot and comforting with a satisfying crunch, air fryer chicken mozzarella sticks are amazing. This game day appetizer will definitely remind you why you love your air fryer so much. It’s so easy to make with ground chicken and mozzarella sticks. You can also call them mozzarella stick chicken fries but whatever the name, know that they are addictive and you’re going to be making these cheesy bites often.
Italian breadcrumbs and Italian seasoning add a touch of Italy to these ground chicken and mozzarella sticks. They are perfect served with marinara for dipping.
Also try marinated mozzarella balls, everything bagel beer dogs or egg rolls with firecracker sauce. And Bloody Mary deviled eggs too!
Why You’ll Love It
Make them in just 30 minutes: These chicken mozzarella sticks are quick to make, so if you’re hungry just grab the air fryer and your ingredients and you’ll be biting into these ooey-gooey cheese sticks in just half an hour.
They’re so tasty: The panko breading is so crispy and then you have meaty chicken, melted cheese, garlic, herbs and Italian seasoning. These are just so delicious.
A crowd-pleaser too: Make a batch of these if you’re expecting company or whip some up for the whole family to enjoy. You’ll find this to be a kid-friendly snack as well as something the grownups love!
Air Fryer Chicken Mozzarella Sticks Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Mozzarella cheese: The perfect cheese for cheese sticks, mozzarella melts beautifully and is wonderfully elastic.
Breadcrumbs: I used Italian breadcrumbs in the filling and also panko breadcrumbs to coat for perfect crunch.
Eggs: To help the breading stick.
Seasonings: Salt and garlic salt, red pepper flakes and Italian seasoning gives these a great Italian flavor.
Marinara sauce: For dipping. I like using homemade marinara sauce.
Garlic: Freshly minced garlic is delicious here. You can add extra if you wish.
Heavy cream: Combines with the eggs for a rich-flavored egg coating.
How to Make this Air Fryer Appetizer
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Make the chicken mixture: Combine the chicken with an egg, some breadcrumbs, garlic, and seasonings. Mix it until everything is distributed pretty much evenly.
Wrap the mozzarella cheese sticks: Now you can wrap some of this mixture around mozzarella sticks cut in half lengthwise.
Chill them: Wrap chicken wrapped cheese in plastic and refrigerate. This helps the chicken mixture stick to the mozzarella because you won’t want these ground chicken and mozzarella sticks falling apart in the air fryer!
Create a breading station: Once the mozzarella stick chicken fries are nice and cold, you’re going to be coating them, so plan this ahead. You will need to put flour and garlic salt in one dish, whisked cream and egg in another and then panko and Italian breadcrumbs in a third.
Add the breading: Dredge the air fryer chicken mozzarella sticks in the flour mixture and then the egg mixture and finally the crumbs.
Air fry them: Cook the air fryer chicken mozzarella sticks in the air fryer until golden brown and cooked through. Serve with marinara sauce for dipping.
Substitutions and Variations
Ground chicken: You could substitute ground turkey instead of the chicken for a very similar taste.
Marinara sauce: Anything else from ketchup or mustard to Frank’s Red Hot would be great for dipping a chicken cheese stick. If you do like spice, these ground chicken and mozzarella sticks can be dipped in marinara with added hot sauce. Prefer a creamy dip? Ranch dressing or warm alfredo sauce would be good, or even blue cheese dressing (since there’s no such thing as too much cheese!)
Mozzarella: Use a different kind of cheese if you prefer.
Serving Suggestions
With other appetizers: Mozzarella sticks would pair well with Cajun shrimp deviled eggs, bacon-wrapped tater tots and jalapeno corn dogs.
With a drink: Enjoy your mozzarella sticks with a glass of chilled white wine or perhaps some mango and berry white sangria.
How to Store Leftovers
Store: These will keep for a few days in the refrigerator.
Freeze: Freeze them for up to 2 months.
Thaw: Defrost in the refrigerator overnight.
Reheat: Simply pop the air fryer chicken mozzarella sticks back into the air fryer and the inside will stay moist and warm up which the coating stays crunchy. So if you were wondering whether to make a double batch, you totally should! You could also warm them back up in the oven if you have it on for something else. I wouldn’t recommend the microwave for this because then they will get a bit soggy.
Top Tips
Add the coating: I find it easier to use one hand for the dry dipping then the other for the egg mixture and then once they have the crumb coating on I can again use the ‘dry’ hand to press the crumbs in. Everyone has their own favorite method for dredging and dipping though, so do whatever works for you.
Check for doneness: You might like to slice one of the air fried mozzarella sticks in half to check the chicken is cooked through.
Best served hot: Serve these immediately, while they’re still hot and crispy!
Mozzarella Stick Chicken Fries FAQs
Well, it’s easier to use readymade cheese sticks than cut your own cheese but you can also do that if there is a particular kind of cheese you want to try for this air fryer appetizer.
It’s important to let the ground chicken and mozzarella sticks chill in the refrigerator because this helps the coating adhere and stay on during cooking. Also, let the egg mixture drip off before pressing the chicken sticks into the panko breadcrumb mixture. You can also refrigerate this air fryer appetizer after breading and before cooking, so the layers can solidify a little and be even less likely to flake off.
Air Fryer Mozzarella Chicken Sticks Recipe
Air Fryer Chicken Mozzarella Sticks with Marinara Dip
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 Pounds ground chicken
- 1/2 Teaspoon salt
- 1/2 Teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 Teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 4 eggs, large
- 1 Cup bread crumbs, Italian, divided
- 1 Tablespoon parsley, chopped
- 4 Cloves garlic, minced
- 9 cheese sticks, mozzarella
- 1 Cup all-purpose flour
- 2 Teaspoons garlic salt
- 1/4 Cup heavy cream
- 1 Cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 Cup marinara sauce, for dipping
- nonstick cooking spray, as needed
Instructions
- Combine ground chicken, salt, red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, 1 egg, ½ cup Italian breadcrumbs, parsley, and minced garlic in a mixing bowl. Thoroughly mix.
- Cut cheese sticks in half down the length.
- Lay a sheet of plastic wrap over a plate. Remove ¼ cup of the ground chicken and place onto the plastic wrap. Lightly flatten ground chicken with a spoon and form into a rectangle. Lay a cheese stick next to the chicken as you work to aid in measuring – you will want the chicken to be slightly longer than the cheese.
- Place the cheese stick into the center. Use the plastic wrap to wrap the cheese with the chicken. Twist both ends of the plastic wrap in opposite directions to tightly seal the chicken around the cheese stick and help it to hold its shape. Place onto a baking sheet and store in the fridge as you work.
- Repeat steps 3 and 4 with remaining chicken and cheese sticks.
- Prepare a dredging station. In a shallow dish, combine flour and garlic salt. Add whisked eggs and heavy cream to a second dish. In a third shallow dish, combine remaining Italian breadcrumbs and pankobread crumbs.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F.
- Dredge the chicken in the flour, then the eggs, after excess eggs have dropped off roll each stick in the bread crumbs. Press crumbs gently to adhere.
- Lightly spray the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray. Arrange chicken sticks in a single layer. Cook for 12 minutes, stopping once halfway through to turn
- Serve with marinara sauce as dip and garnish with parsley.
Notes
Check for doneness: You might like to slice one of the air fried mozzarella sticks in half to check the chicken is cooked through.
Best served hot: Serve these immediately, while they’re still hot and crispy!
Nutrition
Whether you make these air fryer chicken cheese sticks as a game day appetizer or a snack, you’ll love them. The marinara sauce is the perfect dipping sauce for mozzarella sticks and adding chicken makes them meatier and more delicious. You can enjoy these as an appetizer, as a snack or even as a main dish paired with salad or vegetables.
Other Recipes to Try
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
I have a question. What if you don’t have an air fryer?? What would you use to cook it??
You could bake them in the oven at 375 to 400°F, flipping them partway through cooking. I’d recommend using a greased baking sheet or parchment paper lined baking sheet so they don’t stick to it. The cooking time should be about the same if using the oven, or perhaps a few minutes longer.
We’re big cheese lovers at home, and when I make this, there won’t be any leftovers.
This dish was a hit with the family! Seems like we’ve found our new go-to recipe.
My family loved this recipe so much!! I’ll make this again soon!
These were even better than I expected
Don’t look at another air fryer recipe for cheese sticks. Like seriously just don’t, this one is perfect!!! You won’t need another
These were really good and my little ones loved them too
I have never had these with chicken. They sound amazing. I can’t wait to try in my new air fryer. loving it so far